With all of our imperfections, we begin and end each day at the foot of the cross. It is here where our story begins and we pray it is where it will end. "Jesus said: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." ~Matthew 11:28-30~

Listen to God's voice at the foot of the crucifix." ~St. Gaspar del Bufaro~

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Finding Grace in Getting Up

I fall down...a lot.

Seemingly, I fall the most when I'm trying hardest not to...Like during Lent.

Time after time, I {almost} get discouraged by my wounded pride and almost miss the point.

The lesson is never in the fall but about getting up...

In getting up, God's unlimited supply of mercy and grace await, often carrying us to miraculous new heights with Him.Hope rises again.

After all, this is why we celebrate Calvary, Where Jesus Christ, God Incarnate,redeemed the world.

He carried the Cross, falling three times,

crucified, that we might have life...

A second chance...

Grace to get up again,

time after time.

One of our parish deacons told me a story of how he recently fell down. (Literally)

He has had a very bad knee for a lengthy amount of years and could hardly walk without his cane. He thought the fall had "done him in." Much to his surprise, the fall actually jarred something in his bad knee (that had locked it up for so many years), knocking it loose again.

Getting up, he realized that he could miraculously walk, jump, (and he says) run again, with renewed flexibility!

What a perfect example and analogy for our faith walk...

+Amazing things happen when we get back up+

I also read a story about a monk who was asked by a curious seeker what one does all day long in amonastery. The old monk gently replied: "We fall and get up, We fall and get up, We fall and get up."

Inspiring!

These have been good lessons for me not to get too bound up in the fall.

We all fall down but what do we do with our getting up?

Seeking reconciliation and forgiveness sets us free, lest we forget that God's mercy and grace are boundless.Easier said than done but always worth a try...Sometimes, again and again.We are just about half way to Calvary at this point in our Lenten journey...Yes, I've fallen a long the way.

Back on my feet and pressing forward, I'm finding grace in getting up again.+I pray you do, too.+

5 comments:

What a beautiful post Tiffany, as usual. I've recently started going to daily Mass again...haven't done it every day since before kiddos--my husband is going into work a little later and letting me go in the morning. I feel like this post, like I"m getting up. (but I have far to go)

I actually fall down a lot. Like really fall- I have the worst depth perception. When I saw your post in my feed (that first line caught my eye), my first thought was "oh, me too!!" :). But really, me too. I like that "to not get too bound up in the fall". Wow. Thanks, as always, for your inspiration.

Beautiful post, Tiffany & just what I needed! It seems I've fallen so many times this Lent. Each time I fall it's harder to get up but I do. "We fall and get up, We fall and get up, We fall and get up." - thanks for sharing that story. A dear priest shared something similar to that with me a while back and I try not to forget it. Everyone struggles or falls, it's the getting back up that's important. :)

Favorite Prayers

A Prayer of the Cure' of Ars, St. John Vianney (Patron Saint of Priests) in the Year of The Priest

I love you, O my God and my only desire is to love you until the last breath of my life. I love you, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving you, than live without loving you. I love you, Lord, and the only grace I ask is to love you eternally....My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love you, I want my heart to repeat it to you as often as I draw breath.Amen

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The Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)

Soul of Christ, sanctify me

Body of Christ, save me

Blood of Christ, inebriate me

Water from Christ's side, wash me

Passion of Christ, strengthen me

O good Jesus, hear me

Within Thy wounds hide me

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee

From the malicious enemy defend me

In the hour of my death call me And bid me come unto Thee That I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels Forever and ever.

Amen

The Anima Christi is a prayer from around the 14th century. It is still widely used after receiving the body and blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ in Holy Communion.